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About Us

16/8/2016

The real fuel behind a company's success is its people. Peter and Olaf Harken recognized this basic business principle more than 50 years ago when starting Harken/Vanguard in the Lake Country of Southeastern Wisconsin. Since those early days, Harken has grown from a backyard dream of two brothers to a global reality with group offices around the world and distribution in 48 countries. Harken gear dominates events like the America's Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, and the Olympics. Blocks, travelers, winches, and hydraulics are aboard everything from the smallest dinghies to the largest megayachts.

The Harken story has been full of twists, turns, successes, and reinventions, but through it all the goal of challenging the status quo and commitment to excellence has always remained the same.

Harken Today

Looking toward the future, Harken has built new, efficient facilities in the USA and Italy, and has taken ownership and responsibility of manufacturing by bringing it in-house. Sophisticated machinery, highly trained technicians, the innovative ideas of engineers, and enhanced work-flow models open unlimited possibilities for growth.

Diversification

Robotics and expanded manufacturing capabilities have allowed growth outside the sailing industry with our in-house machine shop supplying companies with valves, shafts, plates, terminals, and a myriad of other outsourced products. In another big move, Harken block, winch, traveler, and furling systems are being adapted for use in the industrial sector. The high strength, minimal weight and sizes make these products the perfect choice for high-load rope management systems in a range of industries: commercial marine, utility, rescue, wind power, architectural, and stage and theater to name a few.

The growing Canvas division supplies customers with boating and industrial canvas products. Harken boat covers are custom measured and fit; the popular soft luggage line is designed and handmade here. Harken Canvas ramped up its industrial production with contract cutting and sewing for commercial businesses: law enforcement, medical, drilling industries, and entrepreneurial start-ups.

The Harken Hoister is also going strong with a variety of garage storage lifting systems for canoes/kayaks, Jeep® and truck hard tops, bikes, and the popular SUP.

As our business continues to expand, Harken has never strayed from our core values of product excellence and customer first approach-from the friendly voice that answers the telephone, to one-on-one support from our expert technical and customer service staff. These guiding principles established by Peter and Olaf Harken all those years ago will never change as Harken looks to the future.